Dominic Hannigan (Labour)

I am pleased the Minister for Transport is meeting his Northern counterpart today to discuss the mutual recognition of driving bans imposed in the North and the South. It is good to hear that they are close to agreement on the matter. I would like to highlight the related issue of the mutual recognition of penalty points. I understand that the two Ministers are some way apart on that matter. As someone who regularly travels on the M1 between Dublin and Belfast, I am reminded on a daily basis that the mutual recognition of penalty points would increase safety on our roads. I encourage the Minister, Deputy Dempsey, to do all he can to find a way forward on this issue.

As someone who has strong links with Cork, I was concerned to read in this morning's Irish Examiner about toxic waste issues in the county. My father was one of the last people to be born on the island of Haulbowline, so I am familiar with that area. The newspaper report indicates that up to 500,000 tonnes of toxic cancer-causing waste are on the island. This is a cause of real concern to the people of places like Cobh and Ringaskiddy. Residents have joined Navy officials in expressing concern about the matter. The Deputy Leader of the House has been campaigning for a clear-up to be undertaken on the island. It is particularly worrying that his party colleague, the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, has sanctioned the cover-up of the waste. We need a clean-up, rather than a cover-up. I ask the Leader to invite the Minister, Deputy Gormley, to come to the House to make an immediate statement to allay the fears of the people of Cork.